Do Or Die For Doc

With the season on the line tonight, Doc Halladay will be on the mound in what could turn out to be one of the biggest games in franchise history.  And quite honestly, there is nobody else I would want on the mound with such big implications.  Doc is the unquestioned ace of this staff and is one of the best pitchers in the game.

But I think that it's safe to say that as of right now, Halladay has yet to earn the title of big game pitcher.  Aside from his no hitter in the NLDS last year, Halladay had a sub par NLCS in which he went 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA.  In game 1 against the Giants, Halladay pitched 7 innings allowing 4 earned runs.  In game 5 Halladay came through pitching 6 and only allowing 2 runs.  But in game 1 of the NLDS this year, Doc gave up a costly 3 run homer that could have crushed the Phils chances of winning the opening playoff game.

Halladay needs to come through for the Phils tonight with a gem.  The bats are struggling big time, and with Chris Carpenter on the mound properly rested, Halladay has little room for error.

I really think that Halladay is going to rise to the occasion.  He knows better than anyone that he has been decent in the postseason so far, and he wants to earn that reputation of a big time pitcher.  I think Halladay will pitch 8 innings and allow a run and the Phils will be able to turn it over to Madson for the save.  But it won't shock me if Halladay goes the distance and pitches a complete game shutout.